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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ISLAMABAD 015316
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: AEMRASECEAIDMASSPGOVPRELPK
SUBJECT: TFPK01 - PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE: RELIEF OPERATIONS
UNDERWAY
REF: A. (A) HUNT/TASKFORCE E-MAIL 10/12/05
¶B. (B) ISLAMABAD 15278 AND PREVIOUS NOTAL
¶1. (SBU) Summary and introduction: Relief supplies and
assistance teams are beginning to reach affected areas even
as transportation remains a serious on-going problem. There
is great concern that deteriorating weather conditions --
snow has already begun falling in parts of Kashmir -- may
exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. Emergency shelter
remains a top, largely unmet priority. Raids of relief
convoys and distribution centers by locals in the earthquake
zone demonstrate growing frustration with delays in provision
of supplies. The GOP coordination effort remains hampered by
a hierarchical structure and failure to adopt an open
engagement policy with donors. Public sentiment nationwide
continues to shift against the Government of Pakistan (GOP),
as images of human suffering bombard the media. Criticism of
international relief efforts is growing with public figures
chastising the lack of airlift support and the lack of
response from Muslim countries. President Musharraf took
advantage of Secretary Rice's October 12 visit to Pakistan to
publicly thank the U.S. for its generosity and steadfastness
as Pakistan faces this major crisis. The Secretary assured
the President and the people of Pakistan that the U.S. would
provide both immediate relief assistance and long-term
reconstruction support. End summary and introduction.
GOP Efforts
-----------
¶2. (U) The Pakistan military remains the focal point for
relief operations and continues to transport relief supplies
and humanitarian teams to the worst-affected areas. Limited
airlift capability (essential to reach many remote areas),
crowded roads, and attacks on relief convoys by frustrated
victims continue to hamper this process. Military and
civilian officials remain concerned about inadequate stocks
of tents and plastic sheeting for temporary shelter in
impacted areas. With winter approaching, there is a real
concern that deteriorating weather conditions could further
imperil earthquake survivors. Police and civilian medical
personnel have been detailed from unaffected areas of the
country to support military relief operations, although
shortages in certain areas such as surgeons and paramedics
reportedly remain. Collection of domestic funds and relief
supplies continues with reasonable success. Relief supplies
collected by district government in unaffected areas are
making their way to Islamabad for onward distribution. Many
organizations are channeling contributions to the President's
Relief Fund. The exception to this rule has been political
parties, many of which have established their own collection
drives.
¶3. (C) A 29-member Federal Earthquake Relief Cell, located in
the Prime Minister's Secretariat and chaired by MG Farooq
Ahmed Khan, comprises of all relevant sectors of the civilian
and military bureaucracies. The cell is intended to be the
nucleus of the central civil-military operations center for
which post and other donors have been pressing. The GOP has
declined, however, to convene this cell in a central location
to allow donors periodic access to the members. Donors must
instead liaise individually with the designated sectoral
points of contact. Decision-making on assistance proposals
remains hierarchical, with proposals reviewed during a daily
0900 meeting of the cell. Those given preliminary approval
will be referred to more senior decision-making levels.
Despite the Embassy's urging, the GOP has not adopted a
collaborative, on-the-spot decision-making model. The Prime
Minister's Office, however, has welcomed regular engagement
with the USG on relief efforts, establishing a daily 1100
meeting with Embassy liaisons to discuss and coordinate
relief operations. (Comment: This level of engagement will
not get the job done. Post's designated interlocutor at these
1100 meetings, Additional Secretary Imtiaz, has so far
failed to respond to any of the proposals or questions put
forward by our liaisons. DCM and Embassy liaisons met with
MG Farooq after COB October 12th to raise our concerns about
the need for better communication from the GOP on matching
USG resources to the GOP's needs. MG Farooq offered the
Embassy direct access to his deputy -- also a Gen. Farooq --
who offered to join the edaily 1100 meetings. End comment.)
USG Relief Efforts
------------------
¶4. (C) DOD continues to deliver regular supplies of tents,
medical supplies, water, and meals ready-to-eat through
Chaklala airbase in Islamabad. The schedule of twice daily
C-17 and C-130 flights will need to continue for the
foreseeable future, although the Office of Defense
Representative - Pakistan (ODRP) is working with Pakistani
military to improve airfield efficiency so that more flights
can get in each day. Post has e-mailed ODRP reports of daily
operations directly to Department's Task Force-1.
¶5. (SBU) The Ministry of Health has agreed to accept three
(3) U.S. military field hospitals for the duration of the
crisis, including staffing assistance from U.S. military
personnel. While the GOP has yet to identify specific
personnel needs, the Ministry of Health believes that
surgeons and paramedics top the list of those specialties
required. The Prime Minister's Office has promised to
provide a list of priority deployment sites likely on October
¶13. The GOP recognizes that there is a 4-5 day
ship-deliver-operation lag time on these items.
¶6. (U) The USAID/DART team is now in-country following flight
delays and is up-and-running. All assistance items provided
in the initial USAID airlift have been distributed through
Save the Children. Post believes that it is essential for
USAID to identify and provide additional assistance on a
priority basis in order to increase the civilian side of USG
earthquake relief. DART anticipates arrival in coming days
of a second cargo flight of relief supplies, including 1500
tents, 5000 blankets, plastic sheeting, WHO health kits
designed to serve 100,000 patients, two water treatment units
and 5000 water containers; USAID has also transferred USD 9.3
million in response to the UN Flash Appeal and has increased
the grant to the IFRC to USD 2 million.
Corporate Donations
-------------------
¶7. (SBU) Each of the sixty members of the American Busines
Council in Karachi will contribute Rupees 100,000 (a total of
approximately USD 100,000). Many members are making
additional contributions through their U.S. headquarters or
foundations, including Citibank (USD 4 million), Coca-Cola
(USD 2 million), Boeing (USD 1 million), Pfizer (USD 1
million), Caltex (USD 300,000), IBM (USD 50,000) and El Paso
Energy (USD 50,000). Other firms are making in-kind
contributions: medical supplies (Abbott Labs, Johnson and
Johnson, Becton Dickinson, Pfizer), tents (Gillette), food
(Sheraton) and software support (IBM). Proctor and Gamble
(which manufactures PuR water purification sachets in
Pakistan for worldwide distribution) has given 500,000
sachets to NGOs for distribution in affected areas. (Note:
Please protect information on these donations, as several of
these companies have not yet made public announcements. End
note.)
USG Distribution Support
------------------------
¶8. (U) Distribution of relief supplies by air is critical in
isolated parts of Kashmir and NWFP. USG military air assets
in-country consist of 5 CH-57s and 3 UH-60s (as of 1200
October 12). Four (4) MI-17s from the Afghan National Army,
which flew ten sorties on October 12. These air assets are
supplemented by the Joint Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) -
Ministry of Interior Air Wing consisting of 5 UH-60s. All
air assets have been fully committed ferrying relief supplies
and teams during daylight hours on October 11 and 12.
Mission priorities are determined by the Pakistan military.
Fixed wing air traffic control and aircraft support are being
provided by a self-contained team deployed from McGuire AFB
now operational at Chaklala Air Base. Pakistan military is
considering nighttime operation of rotary-wing aircraft.
There is also discussion of establishing a second operations
base for U.S. rotary wing aircraft at PAF Minhas.
¶9. (C) GOP continues to seek additional helicopter support
from the USG. Twenty (20) CH-47 helicopters are scheduled to
arrive at Baghram in approximately two days for deployment in
Pakistan within a week. ODRP, in coordination with CENTCOM
and CFC-A, is considering other sources of helo support to
propose to the PAF, including four (4) State Department/INL
MI-17s in Afghanistan and Tajikistan national MI-17s.
¶10. (C) During his October 12 meeting with CFC-A LTG
Eikenberry, VCOAS Hayat agreed to ODRP's proposal to air drop
rations into remote areas not presently accessible by road.
High population density in some areas will complicate
planning and force protection; drops will be possible only in
areas where the Pakistan military has sufficient personnel on
the ground to clear a drop site. Planning for these missions
is underway; missions could begin as early as October 13.
Public Perception
-----------------
¶11. (U) Public anger over the GOP's perceived inability to
meet humanitarian needs in the affected areas continues to
grow. There appears to be a widespread belief that the GOP
is not doing enough to ensure expeditious delivery of relief
supplies. This sentiment is fueled by media reporting,
interviews, and photographs displaying clearly-suffering
individuals in the assistance zones. In affected areas,
frustrated individuals have attacked and looted relief
convoys and distribution centers and have attempted to
forcibly board relief aircraft with the objective of
evacuation. Public figures have also initiated criticism of
international relief efforts, calling for additional
helicopters to support air lift operations. Some
commentators also took Muslim countries, in particular, to
task for failing to respond rapidly and sufficiently.
¶12. (U) Mindful of public frustrations, President Musharraf
took advantage of the press presence at the top of his
October 12 meeting with Secretary Rice to praise the strong
U.S. response to Pakistan's appeal for international
assistance. (Note: Full reporting of the Secretary's
meetings in Pakistan will be forwarded septel. End note.)
He thanked the United States for its pledge of an initial USD
50 million in relief and reconstruction assistance, noting
that he highlights U.S. air lift and material support when
travels to affected areas of Kashmir and NWFP. The Secretary
assured the President that the U.S. would support the
Pakistani people through this crisis, starting with emergency
relief and continuing through long-term reconstruction of the
devastated regions.
CROCKER